The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee attended the Valedictory Function of 89th Foundation Course for Civil Services at the LalBahadurShastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie today.
Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the young officer-trainees and said that they have entered the All India Services and Central Civil Services after clearing the Civil Services Examination, which is one of the toughest examinations in the country. He stated that these young officers of the nation, are going to work in various sectors of administration, furthering the cause of the nation in different spheres. He asked officers to remember that in whatever branch they are engaged in they should never lose sight of the pan-India perception which is welfare of the people and progress of the nation.
The President said that the provisions of the Constitution of India have taken care of the evolving needs of our growing democracy. Adhering to our Constitutional charter, India’s governance framework has been geared towards upholding our democratic structure. The role of the civil service has to be perceived in the context of preserving these values. He said that good governance is the exercise of power, within the framework of the Constitution, for efficient and effective management of our economic and social resources for the well-being of the people, through the institutions of state. ‘Good governance’, as a concept, has been in vogue since the ancient times. Kautilya had mentioned about the inseparable link between the happiness of a king and that of his subjects. Good governance stands for a framework that has the singular agenda of well-being of the people.
The President stated that Public administration plays a pivotal role in our polity. He advised the young officers that they should always be responsive to the needs of the public. They should adopt a rational approach while performing their duties.